Exeter’s murals are really special, and it is due to a very dedicated team of volunteers. They do extra things that keep Exeter ahead of the pack. Last night the finishing touches were added to Mineral King: In Our Back Yard that really set it off. Look at these fabulous, over-sized, three-dimensional photo corners!
Now, when visitors ask me, “How’dju git them pichers on there?” I will simply say “With them there corner thingies!” 😎
The German Shepherd is named Dante, and there is no rush, thank goodness! I’ve never painted an animal before, so I’ll need all the time that the customer will allow me to learn how. The almost blank canvas will become redbud blooms. And the dancing feet deserve their own photo, because this is a special little project for my dancing friend, Sierra Swinney.
Sierra has been accepted into some Big Deal Ballet Thing in Alabama this summer and it will cost her a ton of money. When this 4×6″ painting is finished, I will auction it on eBay and the money we earn will help her get to the Big Deal. (Yes, I know it is called something else, but more will have to be revealed in a later posting.)
Every time I paint this bridge, it sells. Obviously I am not alone in my obsession with it! This is from photos provided by my dear friend Marilyn, taken when the redbud was in bloom. This is the first time I have painted it in a horizontal format. This is the largest I have painted it (18 x24″). My plan is to finish it for the Creative Center show (June 24-August 21, 2011).
This isn’t exactly about designing the mural, but perhaps you’d like to see where the next mural will be. It is the 100 block of North E, but it is in an alley/parking lot and I don’t have an exact address. So, a picture or 3 might help:
It is on the north facing wall of the same alley where my previous mural is!
Do you remember my posting about the fat girl inside screaming to be left alone? Now I have the solution to those flimsy chairs:
These redwood chairs are made locally by Bob Kellogg of Three Rivers and when I sit in this, my legs stick out like Alice in Wonderland! It is my throne, and sometimes I am the Red Queen.
The new mural has been in the planning phase for over a year. It was requested that a mural be painted to the correct scale so that a person can stand in front of it and appear to be at the actual scene. To do that, I had to have people with me each time I visited a lake with a dam. There are 4 lakes with dams out of Mineral King. I knew that Eagle Lake most likely would not make a good candidate, so I only visited the other 3. My friends and family know that I am always working – thinking, planning and designing – so they have become accustomed to participating in rather unorthodox ways upon request. Here is Phoebe at Crystal Lake:
It is a fabulously beautiful place, and it might have worked for a mural. The dam is on the lower of the 2 lakes, and we all (Michael, Phoebe and I) prefer upper Crystal.
Here is Michael on upper Monarch Lake:
This lake is sort of hard to get to since there isn’t an exact trail. It would be good to know how the mules carrying all those sacks of cement got there!
This is the other JB at Franklin Lake. We were there in late August, and by then, I knew this would probably be the best candidate for a mural that could meet the specifications. It has a trail leading directly to the dam and there was a great photo available of the building process in 1904.
This marker let us know we had 1 mile to go (mile 20 for us 21-milers). Our feet were ready to stop walking in spite of all the fun.
2/10ths of a mile remaining as we crossed the Carmel Creek Bridge! We were really pouring it on in terms of speed, knowing we were going to reach our goal of 5-1/2 hours for the 21 miles!
This was our first view of the finish line.
The only time I ran (besides passing folks) was when I saw Michael on the sidelines! Nancy and I finished in 5 hours, 34 minutes, which translated to a 15.5 minute mile. This was our best time in any of our training walks together! It is quite amazing what momentum and adrenaline (plus training at a higher elevation) can do for one’s time!
After the walk, Michael and I retired to the beach at Asilomar. The sand and the cold water were exactly what my feet required. That’s my medal on my shoulder. (Yes, of course I knit at the beach! Doesn’t everyone??)
Poor Michael – the walk really wore him out!
Remember, today is First Saturday in Three Rivers!
There were peculiar sights along Highway One throughout our 21 Mile Power Walk. Check out these Shetland ponies!
And this guy with his old car, synthesizer/keyboard thing, and 2 flags, one that I did not recognize:
The views continued to be almost breathtaking (perhaps if we hadn’t been in such good shape they might have taken our breath away!)
The Carmel monastery is beautiful! Nancy went to Mass there the night before the walk and said it was jam-packed full of people. She also said it was as beautiful on the inside as on the outside.
A picture is worth 1000 words – here, see 2000 words worth! 
First, before showing you the day’s progress, I want to tell you about an esteemed visitor today, Mr. Ron Hughart. He has published a wonderful autobiography called The Place Beyond the Dust Bowl and is about to embark upon a book tour. I am very proud of Ron, and have to confess that he is the victim of the second portrait I ever drew, way back when. You can find his book here: http://www.amazon.com/Place-Beyond-Dust-Bowl/dp/1892622173
Today I crossed into the 2nd third of the mural. I photographed it this way because is appears further! I even pulled the truck forward. . . wasn’t sure about driving an automatic and had to call Keith to inquire about the parking brake. It was the first time I have ever driven to Sawtooth – had to go there first to make some subtle changes, which LJ coached me on yesterday. Here is the day’s work without all the porkadelia in the way. 
The sky looks pretty good in this! These photos help me understand that progress has been made, because today I was just sure that I painted the same snow patch over and over and over again.
